19th century, the first a section of sea-green ciselé velvet with a design composed of cut, uncut, and voided areas on a tabby ground, in a pattern of repeating circles with two winged lions in each, alternating with rosette-centered medallions that incorporate a fleur-de-lis in each of their points, mounted under glass in distressed gold frame (ground has possibly darkened with age, otherwise good estate condition, not examined out of frame) (framed dimensions 28 x 28 in.); the second a fragment of jacquard fabric with a dark raspberry red foliate lattice design, with later green lace applied to edge, attached to foam-core backing with thread, without frame (fraying, areas of wear and loss, fading) (22.5 x 21.5 in.).

From the Collection of the late Mr. & Mrs. Paul and Betty Mushak, Durham, North Carolina

The velvet piece could possibly be related to the Napoleonic invasion of Venice in 1797, as the design marries the winged lion (symbolic of Venice) with the fleur-de-lis (symbolic of France). Venice has a history of producing exquisite velvets.